Improvement in earth-augers



C. D. PIERCE.

EAlaTH-Aucmlz` Patented cm1?, 187.6.

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TED STATES CHARLES D. PIERCE, oE'gLA SALLE, ILLINOIS.

PATENT IMPROVEMENT IN 'EARTH-AUGERS.

I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 83,467, datedOctober 17, 1876; application filed August 15,1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES D. PIERCE, of La Salle, in the county of LaSalle and State of Illinois, have invented an Improved Well-BoringApparatus, of which the followvexpense in forming wells.

It consists, first, in a hollow auger-shaft, having lateral-movingvalves near its centering-point; second, in'an auger-shaft having twospiral ianges at itslower end, and only one spiral flange continuedtoward the top of the incasing cylinder or bucket; third, in a series ofvalves on the spiral lianges of van auger; fourth, in the combination ofa spirally-ilanged auger-shaft, an adjustable openended cylinder, and anadjustable collar; fifth, ina shaft-coupling having an adjustable andswiveled hook or horn, to facilitate` the sus pending of an auger andits shaft in a bore, all as hereinafter fully set forth. A

Figure 1 of my drawing is a perspective view, illustrating theconstruction and opera tion of my improved apparatus.

a a represent a hollow auger-shaft, that may vary in size, as desired. bis a vent at the top portion of the hollow shaft. c is a vent at thelower end of the Shaft, near the centering-point. d is-avalve coveringthe bottom vent c. It is hinged to the shaft a a in such a manner as tomove laterally to and from the shaft and vent, and to be kept closed bythe pressure of the loose earth and sand while the auger is inoperation. A corresponding vent, c, and valve d are formed on theopposite side of the hollow shaft. ff is a spiral iange rigidly fixed onthe hollow shaft,

and terminates on the lower portion of theA same shaft. g g is a spiralflange starting on the same level with the flange ff, on the oppositeside of the shaft, and is continued above the terminal point of theflange f f. Nos. l 2 3 represent a series of valves fixed at intervalsbetween the two spiral flanges. A is a straight open-ended cylinder,conforming in size with the diameter of the auger, designed to rotatetherein. A half-section only is shown in the drawing. B is ashaft-bearing l spanned across the top of the cylinder A, and rigidlyfixed thereto. G is an. adjustable collar sliding on the top portion ofthe hollow shaft, and carrying a set-screw, lo, by means of which it issecured to the shaft at any point square or angular vertical openin gthrough its center, to admit corresponding ends of shaftseotions m m, orto slide on an auger-shaft. nu are horizontal perforations through thecoupling D and the shaft-sections m, for the admission of pins or keybolts. r is a collar the coupling D. to the swiveled collar r in such amanner that end.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view illustrating more fully the construction ofthe hollow shaft a and g. Fig. 3 is a central section of thecoupjustable parts r' and s connected therewith. Fig. 4. is a sectionaland enlarged view of the keyfbolts t, passed through the perforations nof the coupling D and shaft-sections m. It has a groove tapering fromits head tothe pointed end, and in thatgroove is leaf-spring x, thatbows outward to form a catch that will'retain the pin or bolt in itsplace, as required during the operation of the auger.

In the practical operation of my invention the auger is lowered to thebottom of the bore and rotated to scrape the bottom with the bits on thelower ends of the spiral flanges. In so doing the valves d, pressed bythe earth, will close the vents c and prevent the loose earth and sandfrom entering and closing the hollow shaft c, and the dirt and sand willascend on the spiral flanges, to be retained by the cylinder A and theseries of valves 1 2 3, hinged at intervals between the flanges. In

dwill open and admit air to pass into the and its vents b c, and thusprevent suction,

occasioned by atmospheric pressure.

desired. D is a shaft-coupling that has a orswiveled hook-carrier,fitted and secured in an annular groove formed in the outside of s is ahook or horn hinged i it can drop vinto a pendent position, but cannotrise above the level of its rear and pivoted audits vents and valves cd, and flanges f ling-block D, shaft-sections m, and the adraising theauger and its contents, the valves bottom of the bore through the hollowshaft v and the resistance that would otherwise be f I am aware thathollow shafts and valves have been `used in angers, butI claim that mymanner of forming and applying valves to move laterally, and to open andclose automatically, as required in operating andi with drawing theauger, is novel and greatly advantageous.

The series of valves `1 2 3, between the flanges f g, will hold up andretain the sand that has been forced up, and no single valve willberequired to bear all the weight or pressure of the earth in thecylinder, but such weight and downward pressure will be distributed bythe. series of valves, and each one will be free to act independently inallowing matter` to pass upward, and in keeping up a portion of thematerial that has passed above it.

When the cylinder A becomes packed, it will rise on the shaft and forman extended earth-chamber above the spiral flanges for the reception ofthe substance scraped from the bottom of the bore. rIhe upward movementof the sliding cylinder is restricted by means ofthe adjustable collarC, and the capacity of the chamber and elevating-bucket is thus readilychanged and adapted to the soil in which it is operated. When No. lvalve, or any one of the series, becomes inoperative on account of astone or other obstruction sticking under it, to cause it to leak, theother valves will not be eiected thereby, but perform their function,and the operation of boring and elevating sand and earth will not beimpeded.

By continuing the spiral flange j' only a short distance on the shaft a,and the flange g a greater distance, the earth and sand are preventedfrom becoming too densely packed in the coils of the flanges, and thedifficulties of emptying and removing adhesive soil from the auger arethereby obviated. By terminating the one spiral flange ff on the lowerportion ofthe shaft, when it has served to elevate the earth and sandinto the cylinder, l dispense with the objectionable friction that wouldbe caused by the further upward continuation of the flange f f.

By means of the coupling D, having a swiveled collar, r, and a hingedhook, s, on the rotating collar, I provide an adjustable support, uponwhich the auger and shaft can be readily suspended in its bore.

I am aware that a rigid horn has been formed integral with anauger-shaft coupling, but I claim that my manner of hinging a hook to arotating collar carried on a coupling and shaft is new and greatlyadvantageous, because the hook in its normal position is pendent and outof the way, and when required can be readily adj usted to project froman yside of the shaft to rest upon the support provided to suspend theauger and its shaft in the bore and well whenever required. I am alsoaware that devices have been hinged to rotating collars carried byblocks sliding on auger-shafts, for the purpose of preventingelevating-ropes from getting twisted and `greatly advantageous.

at right angles to the shaft when adjusted to support the auger andshaft, is novel and By providing an adjustable hook that is pendent inits pormal condition I obviate daugers and difficulties attending theuse 0f a rigidly-projecting hook. It frequently occurs that a rigid hookin going up` and down in a freshly-formed bore will 'come into contactwith strata of gravel and other inadhesive substances forming the wall,and` thereby cause theearth to cave, so that the well will be a totalloss, or will require eXtra labor and expense to complete it. By meansof the ad` justable'hook I also avoid the inconvenience and labor oftencaused by the necessity of removing obstructions that prevent a rigidprojecting hook from passing up and down in a well, and also of turningthe heavy shaft and its auger and load to bring the rigid hook to` thesupport provided for it.

In place of adjusting and accommodating the cumbersome parts to thehook, I adjust the simple light collar 1' and its hook s to accomplishthe results contemplated, and thereby economize time, labor, and expensein making a well. y

I claim as my invention- 1. In an earth-augur, the lateral-moving valvesd, in combination with the hollow shaft a a having vents b c,substantially as and for the` purposes shown and described.

2. An auger-shaft a a, having spiral flanges f and g of unequal length,substantially as and for the purposes shown and described.

3. An auger having spiral flanges and a series of valves, l 2 3, atdifferent points of elevation between the coils ofthe flanges,`

substantially as and for the purposes shown and described. i

4. The combination of the auger-shaft a a, having spiral tlan ges f andg of unequal length, the sliding open-ended cylinder A, and theadjustable collar C, substantially as and for the purposes shown anddescribed.

5. The auger-shaft coupling D, having a vertical and angular bore toreceive the shaftsections m, and horizontal perforations n n to receivethe key-bolts t, and carrying an adjustable hook or horn, s,substantially `as and; for the purposes shown and described.

6. The hook s, hinged to the rotating collan r by means of a stiff-backhinge-joint, in coin-` bination with an adjustable block, D, and anauger-shaft, to operate` as and for the pur poses shown and described.

CHARLES D. PIERCE. Witnesses GHAs. A. R. BACON, THos. RANDALL.

